© Mark Blinch/NHLI

TORONTO — Auston Matthews was named the 26th captain in Toronto Maple Leafs history on Wednesday.

He is the first United States-born player to be captain in the franchise’s 107-year history and the second non-Canadian player hold the role; Mats Sundin of Sweden was captain from 1997-2008.

The 26-year-old center replaces John Tavares, who had been captain since Oct. 2, 2019.

“I’m incredibly humbled to be named captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs,” Matthews said. “I’m honored to follow in John’s footsteps and continue our work in leading this team along with so many other leaders within our dressing room. This team, this city, and our fans mean everything to me. We all embrace the history of this franchise, and we are determined to get the job done.”

Matthews was born in San Ramon, California, but grew up in Scottsdale, Arizona, after his family moved there when he was an infant.

Selected with the No. 1 pick in the 2016 NHL Draft by the Maple Leafs, Matthews had an NHL career-high 107 points last season, including 69 goals, which was the most in a season since 1995-96, when Mario Lemieux also scored 69 for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

“Over these past eight seasons, we’ve witnessed first-hand Auston’s trajectory and evolution as a player and a person,” Maple Leafs president and alternate governor Brendan Shanahan said. “He’s grown year over year and has shown, through his dedication to the Leafs and unwavering commitment, that he is ready to lead this Club.”

Matthews has won the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy as the NHL’s leading goal-scorer three times (2020-21, 2021-22, 2023-24). When he scored 60 goals in 2021-22, he became the first U.S.-born player to hit that mark. That same season, he won the Hart Trophy as the League’s most valuable player and the Ted Lindsay Award, given annually to the most outstanding player in the NHL as voted by members of the NHL Players’ Association. He won the Calder Trophy as the rookie of the year (2016-17).

Since joining the NHL in the 2016-17 season, Matthews has scored at least 34 goals in each season and leads all NHL players with 368 goals, 40 more than Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals (328), who is second. Matthews is also eighth in points over that span with 649.

He ranks third in goals in Maple Leafs history behind former captains Sundin (420) and Darryl Sittler (389). Matthews is sixth all-time in points in Toronto history behind Sundin (987), Sittler (916), Dave Keon (858), Borje Salming (768) and George Armstrong (713). All but Salming are former Maple Leafs captains.

“When (general manager) Brad Treliving and I met at the end of this past season and discussed ways for our team to take the next step, we both agreed that Auston is ready and it’s his time to lead,” Tavares said. “It’s been an incredible honor to serve as captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs these past five seasons. Looking forward, I will do everything to support Auston as we continue our pursuit of the Stanley Cup.” 

Matthews is entering the first season of a four-year, $53 million contract ($13.25 million average annual value) he signed with the Maple Leafs on Aug. 23, 2023.

“This was part of a conversation that grew as the summer went along that John was very much a part of from beginning to end,” Treliving said. “We believe Auston’s unique qualities as a hockey player and ability to inspire his teammates will drive our team’s success moving forward.”

The Maple Leafs have made the Stanley Cup Playoffs in all eight of Matthews’ seasons, but have advanced past the opening round just once, which came in 2022-23. He has 48 points (23 goals, 25 assists) in 55 playoff games.

He is the fifth youngest captain in the NHL behind Brady Tkachuk (Ottawa Senators) and Quinn Hughes (Vancouver Canucks), who are 24, and Nick Suzuki (Montreal Canadiens) and Nico Hischier (New Jersey Devils), who are 25.

There are six teams in the NHL without a captain: the Anaheim Ducks, Buffalo Sabres, Chicago Blackhawks, Seattle Kraken, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Utah Hockey Club.